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Cross Car: Go kart for the dirt

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Grassroots motorsport is very different from any other form of basic sport. While equipment used in sports like tennis, cricket or football remains pretty much the same as you progress up the ranks, the karts, buggies and cars used as you climb the ladder in motorsport are upgraded at almost every step. Take single-seat open-top racing, for example. The path to Formula 1 starts out in go-karts, evolves to basic single-seat open-wheel cars, and then moves onto progressively faster and faster formula cars with wings. There, however, has never been a dirt road or rally feeder series in India ... until now. Enter the Cross Car, nothing less than the ideal platform for young and enthusiastic drivers looking to get into rallying and various forms of motorsport on dirt. And with the first set of Cross Cars slated to reach the Madras Motor Sport Club in the next couple of months and a proposed inaugural series slated to kick off later this year, India is all set to get a proposed first step i...
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350cc KTM 390 Adventure performance tested and explained

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The KTM 390 Adventure now comes with a 350cc engine variant to avoid the 40 percent GST on bikes above 350cc. This has made it Rs 62,000 cheaper than the X variant with the 398cc engine. For this report, we have also compared it with the figures from last year's 390 Adventure S performance test.  350cc KTM 390 Adventure: Acceleration  Acceleration 350cc KTM 390 Adventure 398cc 390 Adventure S 0-40kph 1.55s 1.55s 0-60kph 2.47s 2.62s 0-80kph 4.36s 3.97 0-100kph 6.82s 5.80s As expected, the 350cc 390 Adventure is slightly slower than the 389cc model. Up to 40kph, both the bikes took 1.55 seconds, and in the sprint to 100kph, there is a difference of 1 second. While the 398cc engine used to have a nice mid range punch, the 350cc engine feels more linear and has the surge in power coming in towards the top end. Overall, the bike is not drastically slower, but has lost out on its potent midrange performance. 350cc KTM 390 Adventure: Roll-on Acceleration  Roll-On Acceleration 3...
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Porsche 911 DNA tested

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Indulge me, if you will. First, please get off your chair and onto a cushion on the floor. Now stretch your arms and legs out, as if resting on an imaginary steering wheel and pedals. Then visualise being surrounded by the tight-fitting cabin of an early 911. No, no, not that large; smaller, much smaller. Early 911 cabins are only barely wider than those on a gen-one Mini. Then, up front, imagine a pair of tyres connected to the steering wheel by only a set of mechanical levers. No power assistance needed here. And finally, a foot or so behind you, placed low, Porsche’s big three-litre air-cooled flat six. Do this, and you’ll quickly grasp the essence of a G-body 911 – nothing less than a go-kart with a big flat-six engine slung out the back. Built around a slightly wider body with larger-capacity engines, the G-body 911s represented a significant step forward for the Porsche 911. Air Time As I slot the key in, left-handed, and twist it against the spring, something incredible happens...
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Bajaj Pulsar NS200 price and variants explained

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The Bajaj Pulsar NS200 is offered in two variants with different suspension and braking setups. Here, we'll break down and explain what each variant gives you and how much it costs. Bajaj Pulsar NS200 SC The base SC variant gets its name from its single-channel ABS setup. It uses a conventional telescopic fork up front and a rear monoshock, and these are the only differences compared to the higher-spec variant – the rest of the motorcycle remains unchanged. That includes the 199.5cc, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled engine producing 24.5hp and 18.7Nm, along with features such as a Bluetooth-enabled LCD console and disc brakes at both ends. The NS200 SC is priced at Rs 1.35 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Bajaj Pulsar NS200 DC USD The DC USD variant steps up with dual-channel ABS and a more significant upgrade in the form of a USD fork at the front, replacing the conventional telescopic unit on the SC variant. The rear continues with the same monoshock setup. The NS200 DC USD is priced at...
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Updated TVS Apache RTR 160 4V price and variants explained

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TVS has streamlined the Apache RTR 160 4V line-up, reducing the earlier exhaustive variant spread to four distinct trims – RM Disc Black Edition, Single Channel ABS, Dual Channel ABS with USD and USD with TFT. Irrespective of the variant, the Apache RTR 160 4V continues with its 159.7cc single-cylinder engine producing 17.5hp and 14.7Nm. The motorcycle also retains its sporty positioning within the segment, with the higher variants layering additional technology and hardware upgrades over the base package. RM Disc Black Edition Rs 1.19 lakh The RM Disc Black Edition serves as the entry point into the Apache RTR 160 4V range and is priced at Rs 1.19 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). Despite being the base variant, it comes equipped with riding modes (Urban, Rain, and Sport), which is what the RM nomenclature denotes. This version also features a front disc brake setup and an all-black visual treatment. It is positioned as the most accessible version while still retaining the Apache’s perfor...
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3 reasons to buy the KTM 390 Adventure R and 3 to skip it

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The 390 Adventure R sits between the X and the top-spec 390 Adventure. It gets an adjustable, longer-travel suspension (230mm at both ends), a larger 18-inch rear wheel and spoked wheels with tubed tyres.  Here are 3 reasons why you should consider the KTM 390 Adventure R Excellent off-road abilities The chassis and suspension of the bike work exceptionally well to handle anything in their path. Be it rocks, loose dirt, or technical trails, the bike glides through it all with composure. Off-road, the bike is easy to control, though it does demand some experience given its 183kg weight and tall 880mm seat height.   Adjustable suspension Being adjustable, the bike can be set up to suit different riders and conditions. You can carry serious pace off-road, and it performs well across a range of terrain. Grip from the Mitas tyres The 60/40 Mitas E07 Enduro Trail + tyres are particularly impressive off-road and complement the abilities of the chassis and suspension. Even on the ro...
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Kia Seltos turbo-petrol automatic real-world fuel economy tested, explained

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We recently tested the fuel efficiency of the 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol-automatic version of the new Kia Seltos . This time, we got our hands on the more powerful 1.5-litre turbo-petrol paired with a 7-speed dual-clutch automatic, and we put it through our real-world efficiency tests. Misses an auto engine stop-start feature Gets three drive modes – Eco, Normal and Sport Kia Seltos 1.5 turbo-petrol real-world efficiency  This version is powered by a 160hp/253Nm, 1.5-litre direct-injection turbo-petrol engine mated to a 7-speed DCT. Driven entirely in Eco mode, it returned 9.27kpl in the city and 14.76kpl on the highway. While the highway figure is respectable for the segment, the city efficiency is on the lower side, likely due to the absence of an automatic engine stop-start function and high ambient temperatures during testing. Interestingly, despite its larger footprint and more extensive equipment list, the new model is marginally more efficient than the first-gene...
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KTM 160 Duke price and variants explained

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KTM offers the 160 Duke in two variants – the Base LCD variant and the higher-spec TFT version – with both sharing the same mechanical package and feature set while differing primarily in instrumentation. The KTM 160 Duke continues with the same engine and underpinnings that were introduced as part of its positioning as the new entry point into the Duke family. Its 164cc single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine produces 19hp at 9,500rpm and 15.5Nm at 7,500rpm. KTM 160 Duke Base Rs 1.74 lakh The base KTM 160 Duke comes equipped with an LCD instrument cluster and continues to serve as the more accessible option in the line-up. While it misses out on the TFT display offered on the higher variant, the overall feature set remains unchanged, including Bluetooth connectivity and app support. However, one needs to purchase a separate Bluetooth module to unlock these features. These allow riders to access music controls, incoming call alerts and turn-by-turn navigation when paired with the KTM ...
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2026 Kia Seltos buyers guide video

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from Autocar India https://ift.tt/ASpCHql
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Royal Enfield to set up manufacturing facility in Andhra Pradesh

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Royal Enfield has announced plans to establish a new manufacturing facility along with a vendor park in Andhra Pradesh. The Chennai-based manufacturer has operated exclusively out of Tamil Nadu since starting production there in 1955, making this a significant shift in its manufacturing operations. Rs 2,200 crore investment for new facility in Andhra Pradesh New plant to add 9 lakh units to annual production capacity Expected to create 5,000 direct and indirect jobs Royal Enfield Andhra Pradesh plant details This will be the brand’s first plant in India outside Tamil Nadu The facility will span 276 acres across Vanelluru and Rallakuppam villages in the Satyavedu area of Tirupati district. The project has received approval from the Andhra Pradesh State Investment Promotion Board. Development will take place in two phases. The first phase will include a vendor park, targeted for completion by 2029, while full operational capacity is expected by 2032. Once complete, the new plant will in...
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Audi remakes V16-powered Auto Union Lucca road racer

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Audi has recreated the legendary Auto Union Lucca, a streamlined record-breaking car from the 1930s that once held the title of the world’s fastest road racing car. The recreated Rennlimousine (racing sedan) will make its public debut in early May in Lucca, the same Italian city where the original road racer set a flying-start mile speed record in February 1935. 1935 Lucca achieved a top speed of nearly 327kph Restoration took over three years to complete The recreated Lucca has a larger and more powerful V16 engine The story of the Auto Union Lucca Driven by German racing driver Hans Stuck, the original Auto Union Lucca achieved an average speed of 320.267kph over a flying-start mile on a straight section of a motorway near the city of Lucca in Italy. The road racer also recorded a measured top speed of 326.975kph, making it one of the fastest racing machines of its era. The Lucca was developed during a fierce rivalry between Auto Union (Audi's direct predecessor) and Mercedes-B...
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Aprilia SR 160, SXR 125 and SXR 160 discontinued

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Aprilia has quietly discontinued the SXR 125 and SXR 160 maxi-scooters. Additionally, it has pulled the plug on the SR 160, which has been replaced by the SR 175 . While these models have been axed for some time, the brand never formally announced this. SR 175, which replaced SR 160, features an uprated engine The SXR was the brand’s maxi-scooter range The SXR range came with a 12-inch wheel setup Aprilia SXR range discontinued: The SXR range featured distinct bodywork with a 12-inch wheel setup. While the SR 160 has long been dropped from the line-up, the brand never formally announced its discontinuation. It has now been replaced by the more powerful, higher-displacement SR 175, which features an uprated engine and a TFT dash shared with the 457 range, while retaining familiar styling for the LED headlight and tail-light. Piaggio India did not formally disclose the SR 175’s launch either. However, it did announce the launch of the SR 175 GP-Replica edition in September. However, w...
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